Device for firing blast charges.



PATENTED SEPT. 4, 1906. J. DOWD. DEVICE FOR FIRING BLAST CHARGES.

APPLICATION FILED JAN.19, 1906.

lNVENTOH fojzn Z0 wzZ WITNESSES. Edd, A0

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN DOWVI), OF CHICOPEE, KANSAS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO A. M. MASON,OF PITTSBURG, KANSAS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 4, 1906.

application filed January 19, 1906. Serial No. 296,785-

lb all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOHN Down, a citizen of the United States, and aresident of Chicopee, in'the county of Crawford and State of Kansas,have invented a new and Improved Device for Firing Blast Charges, ofwhich the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

The purpose of the invention is to provide a simple, economic, andreliable device especially adapted for firing blast charges, but whichcan be successfully used in connection with any form of powdercartridge.

A further purpose of the invention is to provide a device of thecharacter described which is adapted to be embedded in the powdercontained. in the cartridge and which after a certain interval of timeautomatically ignites the powder.

The invention consists in the novel construction and. combination of theseveral parts, as will be hereinafter fully set forth, and pointed outin the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part ofthis specification, in which similar characters of reference indicatecorresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the im proved device. Fig. 2 is acentral longitudinal section through the same, and Fig. 3 is atransverse section taken practically on the line 2 2 of Fig. 2.

A represents a capsule of predetermined size, preferably made ofgelatin, which capsule is varnished or otherwise treated to prevent itfrom dissolving in water. The cap sule A is adapted as a container fortwo smaller and graduated capsules B and C, also made of gelatin, andeach capsule is made in the customary two parts.

A space 10 is provided between the outer capsule A and the intermediatecapsule B, which space is partially filled with water, as is shown at 11in Figs. 2 and 3. The intermediate capsule B is empty, except for theinner capsule C, which it contains, and the said innermost capsule C ismuch smaller than the intermediate capsule B and is wholly or partiallyfilled with a metal of the alkaline-earth group, preferably metallicsodium, as is shown at 12 in the drawings.

After the container A has received its charge the two parts of saidcontainer are ield together, for example, by a spring-wire 13, havingcircular terminals 14, into which the ends of the container A arefitted, as is shown in Figs. 1 and 2 but, if so desired,'a cement may beemployed instead of the clamp just described, and a cement or waxcomposed of tallow, rosin, and tar is found very eflicacious, beingapplied in like manner as a sealing-wax.

When the device is complete, it is placed in the powder, when the powderis )laced in the cartridge, and after a certain length of time the waterwill penetrate the intermediate capsule B and will reach in due time themetallic sodium in the innermost capsule C, whereupon sodium oxid isformed,

and the flame resulting therefrom will burn its way through the outercapsule or container A and will explode the powder in the cartridge.

If speedy action is required, the inner capsules may be made quite thinor the intermediate capsule B may be pricked with a needle or othersmall sharp instrument.

The receptacle may be made of celluloid or like material, but gelatin ispreferred, and, if desired, the container A may be provided with a smallair-hole for the escape of air when the cover is placed on the body,after which the hole is closed by wax or its equivalent.

If very quick action is desired, the intermediate capsule can beomitted.

This device is exceedingly simple and is very effective in operation.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent- 1. In a device for firing blast and similar charges,a consumable container, and ai fve'se sel therein, soluble in watercontaining metal of the alkaline-earth group, which vessel is in contactwith water contained in the container.

2. In a device for firing blast and similar charges, a consumablecontainer, graduated vessels contained therein, soluble in water, theinnermost vessel being charged with a metal of the alkaline-earth group,and a column of water held in the container and adapted for timed accessto the said alkaline charge.

3. In a device for firing blast and similar charges, a gelatin-capsulecontainer having a Waterproof coating, and nested graduated gelatincapsules contained in the container, the innermost capsule having acharge of a metal of the alkaline-earth group and the container beingprovided With a column of Water surrounding the nested capsules.

4. In a device for firing blast and similar charges, a gelatin-capsulecontainer having a Waterproof coating, nested graduated gelatin capsulescontained in the container, the innermost capsule having a charge of ametal of the alkaline-earth group, the container being provided With acolumn of Water surrounding the nested capsules, and means for sealingthe container.

5. In a device for firing blast and other cartridges, a gelatin-capsulecontainer having a Waterproof outer covering, nested and graduatedgelatin capsules located Within the container, a charge of metallicsodium carried by the innermost capsule, and a column of Water in thecontainer surrounding the outermost of the nested capsules.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of tWo subscribing Witnesses.

JOHN DOWVD.

Witnesses:

THos. GLENNON, C. W. OSBORN.

